Banbury Introductory Leaflet Written for new and potential members First published 2016 1
Who we are U3A is short for University of the Third Age, which is a voluntary organisation for people who are no longer in full-time employment and who want to keep active in mind and body. Your first age of learning is the education of youth followed by the second age when working for a living and/or parenting. Retired and semi-retired people in their third age have choices at last to take charge of their own learning for pleasure and to seek the activities that interest them. Some of this can be done socially in the informal environment of the learning co-operative that is U3A, where members continue life-long learning by helping to run activities for other members. The University simply implies a group of people coming together for learning, whether intellectual, practical, physical or social. The members of Banbury U3A could be involved in activities from Shakespeare to scrabble and from craft to country walking. Qualifications are not needed at any time and none are awarded. U3A is a selfhelp organisation that is open to all third agers and draws upon the knowledge, talents, skills and experience of its membership. Therefore, there is the opportunity to meet a wide range of people with different personalities, backgrounds, knowledge, skills and life experiences. This diversity generates respect for each other in a non-judgemental environment. On joining, there should be no questions about you or your past, just the need to supply the normal contact details. The self-help ethos means the opportunity for members to contribute in whatever ways they feel able. This could be from acting as a group convenor or committee member, giving a presentation, organising a session to going on the tea rota or helping to move the chairs. The more active and involved you are, the more you will get out of your membership. In this organisation, older people really are doing it for themselves. What we do Basically this is shared learning. There are 3 main ways to learn in Banbury U3A: Interest groups. These develop when people come together to participate through a wide range of activities planned by the members themselves. These are interest groups rather than courses with group convenors/facilitators rather than teachers, and group members rather than students. There is typically a wide variation in the levels of knowledge and skills within a group s membership and groups may not contain an expert in the subject. Fundamental to the U3A movement is the dictum, Those who teach shall also learn and those who learn shall also teach. Open meetings. These are currently held at Banbury Rugby Club, Bodicote Park, Oxford Road, Banbury OX15 4AF, twice a month (except August) and are open to all members. The first meeting, held on the second Wednesday afternoon of the month, usually involves an outside speaker. The second meeting, held on the fourth Wednesday afternoon of the month, can be presentations by individual members, interest groups, local organisations or another kind of activity. 2
Newsletters, Bulletins and Magazines. Our own newsletter is published in both electronic and A5 printed format 2/3 times a year. All members receive printed copies of these newsletters which are picked up at open meetings, delivered by hand or posted. For the months in between newsletters there is usually a bulletin sheet which can be picked up at open meetings and is also sent out by email. Members also receive, posted to their homes 5 times a year, the magazine Third Age Matters from The Third Age Trust, accompanied by a second magazine Sources 3 times a year. The U3A movement The first organisation of its kind began in France in 1972. Ten years later, the Third Age Trust was set up in the UK. Continued expansion resulted by 2016 in almost 1000 local U3As in the UK with a total membership of well over 350,000. Banbury U3A was launched in 1985 and serves the town and its surrounding villages with a membership currently around 300. Like all local U3As, we run and finance our own affairs and, as a registered charity, do everything on a voluntary and unpaid self-help and self-managing basis. Hence, members do not pay for their learning as we are all learning from each other. Members can participate in as few or as many activities as they wish, which results in enjoyable experiences in a laid-back and non-competitive atmosphere. Membership and finances As all U3As are self-financing, there is an annual subscription. For Banbury U3A this is 12.00 for the year from January to December. Two members at the same address pay 20.00 due to reduced printing and postage costs. New members joining from July onwards pay 6.00. A renewal slip is sent out in January. The window for renewal of subscriptions is January and early February, after which members will be removed from our lists to avoid over-payments to the Third Age Trust. Membership cards are issued and, if not picked up in person, are inserted in a newsletter. Around 5.00 of the 12 goes to the Third Age Trust to pay for the production and postage of their magazines and for a whole host of benefits including insurances, licences, legal advice, resources and website facilities. The remainder of the subscription pays for our own publications, equipment, running costs and a small subsidy for open meetings. Outside speaker fees and expenses, combined with room rentals mean that there is an additional attendance fee of 1.00 for each meeting, although this includes a hot drink and biscuits. We are a registered charity, number 291645, but not one that raises funds. We just need to balance the books. Banbury U3A has also received legacies and these provide extra finance that purchase equipment and are available for use by interest groups. Start-up costs and 3
capital equipment are obvious examples. The group convenor simply needs to submit a proposal to the committee. Subsidising a group s running costs such as the purchase of books or room rental is not normally granted finance. Members of Banbury U3A should not be significantly out of pocket as a result of their voluntary work for the organisation and there are expenses claim forms available. On occasion, travel expenses at 35 pence per mile can be paid where travel is to a venue outside the local area. Members are not allowed to profit from their membership of U3A either. For example, a member cannot charge a fee if they give a talk at another U3A. Running our affairs Our constitution requires the election of officers (chairman, vicechairman/men, business secretary and treasurer) and other committee members at the Annual General Meeting which is held in late November. The committee normally meets 4 times a year to discuss issues and plan future events. Members of the committee fulfil a variety of roles in a flexible way to meet the needs of the organisation at the time. Like most U3As, Banbury has its own website. Its URL is http://u3asites.org.uk/banbury (easily found just by entering Banbury U3A into Google), whose function is largely for advertising and contains very limited contact details for security reasons. Members personal information is kept secure by the committee and not shared with other organisations. It is recommended that members supply an email address so that they can receive the monthly bulletins, which are not posted. There is also a notice board at each open meeting for news, events, collection of leaflets etc. Banbury U3A has to adhere to the guiding principles of the Third Age Trust as well as the terms of the insurances taken out by the Trust. We also have to follow the regulations of the Charity Commission. All of these requirements are simply common sense and rarely restrict our activities. Our neighbouring U3As Banbury U3A has increasing links with other U3As locally, especially Brackley and Shipston-on-Stour and District. Some of our members attend their activities or belong to more than one U3A. Members of other U3As may join one of our interest groups (subject to available spaces) without paying the annual subscription and are very welcome to attend open meetings paying the standard entrance fee. Some proof of membership will be required. To gain full membership, they will be charged the reduced annual subscription of 8.50, having already paid their 3.50 capitation fee to the Third Age Trust. We have a reciprocal arrangement of these terms with Shipstonon-Stour U3A but not currently with Brackley U3A. 4
The Third Age Trust U3As are self-governing charitable associations with their own constitutions. Membership of The Third Age Trust is a requirement for all U3As in order to use the U3A name and logo. The Third Age Trust provides the aims and guiding principles of the Third Age Movement and oversees all U3As in the United Kingdom as an umbrella body. Unlike U3As, the Third Age Trust has offices and staff to pay for but these are essential for the services that would be too costly for U3As to provide individually. The Trust also has a resource centre for loan of non-book materials. The website of the Third Age Trust is at www.u3a.org.uk and there is a members area that can be accessed by all members of a U3A, especially for downloading information. Access to this members area, by any member of Banbury U3A, requires simple online registration. A user name and password just needs to be created. The Thames Valley Network There is also a regional body of the 40 U3As within the Thames Valley Region as well as a larger South East regional body. We sometimes pay a nominal fee to the TVN to support its activities including its excellent study days. Geographically, Banbury is at the northern edge of the network area which means travelling to their events that take place in centres such as Oxford, Benson and High Wycombe. The TVN also has shared learning projects and other events. Their website is at www.u3atvnetwork.org.uk. Our open meetings The current venue is Banbury Rugby Club, Banbury. It offers modern facilities, reasonable rental fees, ground floor access, a kitchen for making hot drinks and large free car parks. The venue can be accessed by the B4 bus (Banbury to Deddington or to Oxford). Most members come by car, so car-sharing is encouraged. Volunteers set up the hall before 2.00 p.m. on the afternoon of a meeting. Attendees are checked in, with their 1.00 payment (which includes hot drink and biscuits), by the desk team. The meeting commences at 2.30 p.m. with a welcome from the chairman or other committee member and brief notices before the presentation, which usually lasts around one hour. A hot drink and biscuits are then available. The provision of refreshments requires volunteers and members are asked to sign up to a rota in advance. After plenty of social chat, members clear the hall of chairs and tables and return it to its former tidy state. Non-members/guests will always be welcome (paying 1.50 entrance fee). Sometimes, there is a Bring and Buy. Members bring in items such as books and CDs which are sold to help raise funds. Items that remain unsold are donated to local charity shops. 5
The social side All our events involve social interaction because of the enjoyment of social learning, but there are other opportunities to get together. Every year in December we have a Christmas Social, often with entertainment, where those attending are asked to bring a plate of food to share. This unplanned collection ensures plenty to eat with a wide variety of foods to sample. Joining Banbury U3A Most newcomers learn about Banbury U3A through friends or via our website. A non-member/guest may attend an open meeting as a visitor or interest group as a guest once before joining. A membership form needs to be completed and to find its way, with payment, to the Membership Secretary or Treasurer. Payment can be made by cash or cheque. Payment will be acknowledged and a membership card issued. Registers are taken at all open and interest group meetings. Our interest groups All U3As have interest groups that have evolved over time as members work together in a common field. There is no fixed format or procedures for a group or its convenor to follow. The Third Age Trust has produced More Time To Learn, an excellent booklet full of ideas for group learning. It can be obtained from the members area of their website in printed form or by download. Most groups cater for the nonspecialists in the subject and having a mixed group in terms of skills and experience is often a bonus. In Banbury, many groups meet in members homes, others in local venues such as Amos Court and Stanbridge House or outdoors. The activities are for the enjoyment and benefit of its members, so everyone in the group should be responsible for planning the content. Public liability insurance is covered but responsibility for personal safety must rest with the individual member. Some groups, especially those that use rented venues, have to charge a small fee for attendance. Most groups do not have other costs. It is at the discretion of the group whether to have refreshments and how they are paid for. A Banbury U3A member can join as many groups as they wish, providing there is room for them. In order to join a group, contact needs to be made via the telephone number in the table printed on the sheet of contact details. Some groups, often those held in members houses, may be deemed full. In this situation, prospective members should be placed on a reserves list so that when a group member is unable to attend, they are given the chance to take their place on that occasion. Each group may have its own methods of informing group leaders of their intention to attend but as a general rule; members should inform the group leader if they are going to be absent from a group meeting. 6
How groups are organised Most groups have a group convenor whose role is not that of a teacher or authority figure and whose responsibilities can vary greatly between groups. Some groups may have joint convenors or appear almost leaderless. Some groups, for example, need to plan months ahead while others will need no forward planning at all. There are usually 2 kinds of tasks with running a group: The administrative tasks which could involve booking a venue, taking a register, doing paperwork or refreshments. The organising of tasks which involve some responsibility for the content of the studies. Knowledge and experience of the field of study is not always necessary. This is especially true with the common practice of shared delivery, where many members of the group take it in turns to provide a presentation, demonstration, discussion seminar or other activity. Therefore, there is complete flexibility in how a group is run with tasks separated or combined and in who takes on the responsibilities required. One person has to be willing, however, to be the contact person for the committee and for the general membership. The role of group convenor is therefore rarely onerous. Starting a new group New groups evolve either because there is a field of activity not already covered by our groups or where groups become full and there is enough demand for another. It is a misconception that groups of the same subject must pay heed to what each other is doing or that members cannot belong to more than one group studying the same subject. There is no set format that must be followed to start a group but experience has shown that publicity through newsletters, bulletins and open meetings and the production of an interested list are the ways to get started. This is usually followed by an initial meeting when terms of reference, practices, resources and plans are agreed by all the new membership. All new group convenors are given a simple Banbury U3A Information Pack. Many new groups have foundered when leadership has been too dictatorial or when those interested have been reluctant to take on some responsibility and leave all the work to others. Committee members, many of whom are group convenors themselves, will be keen to help new groups get off the ground. Expectations of a group convenor A group convenor must be a member of Banbury U3A and is free to run the group without interference. They should however: Ensure that all members are involved in planning the group s activities and review their practices from time to time. 7
Run a generous, welcoming and uncritical group where respect and courtesy are the order of the day. Be aware of the objects and principles of the U3A movement and of the advice given by the Third Age Trust. Keep a register of attendance at meetings and create a waiting list if appropriate. Ensure that those attending are members of Banbury U3A and that non-members visit only once before they are required to become members. Keep secure the personal details of group members in accordance with data protection legislation. The recommendation is to use Bcc when contacting members as a group by email. Seek committee approval if outsiders attend to support or guide the work of the group in their chosen field (for example fluent language speakers). Supply information as required by members of the committee, especially when the group s circumstances change. Expectations of group members Interest groups are the lifeblood of a U3A and membership implies time and effort on behalf of its members. U3A members are generally busy people with many other commitments to fit in and the casual attendee can create problems for the organisation of a group s activities. Group members should: Remain courteous, respectful, non-critical and non-competitive at all times. Respect the values and perceptions of other group members. Follow the agreed procedures and practices of the group. Inform the group convenor when they will not be attending. (They are under no obligation to give reasons). Be involved sometimes in the preparation of sessions, not just attend them. It is not expected that all members of a group contribute equally due to their different levels of knowledge and skills, but members are expected to play their part in the activities provided, rather than leaving all of the work to others. Tell the group convenor when they no longer wish to belong to the group. Any member not notifying the group convenor that they are going to be absent on 3 occasions will be removed from the group s membership list. Some slogans to remember The U3A ethos is self-help not help yourself ; do not expect our volunteers to provide you with a service. Nothing gets done in U3A unless members do it for other members. Our members should be all equal, all different and all contributing. 8